MrBen

This is the Drawing Room so I hope you don't mind my deliberately provocative Daily Mail style of question which was intentionally aimed to draw heated debate. And has done. Particularly where such an emotive subject as the NHS is concerned. Firstly , by private sector I did not specifically mean the private healthcare sector nor, BN5, was I a faceless back room manager during my NHS stint. I was 22 and a lowly IT support guy but my work involved fixing critical front line systems on site which, as you'll know, were needed to save lives on a daily basis. Inefficiency in my work would slow the ability of doctors, nurses to respond quickly and I had to deal directly with those staff at all levels and yes, it could be very stressful at times. But I think I need to be more specific before you all jump to conclude I'm having a pop at hard working doctors and nurses (who as it happens saved my life in 2006 at Kings - so I hope you'll understand my gratitude). They are fantastic public servants doing wonderful deeds but they should not be allowed to mask the deplorable inefficiencies and attitudes of lifestyle NHS staffers who are there for an easy ride. The back office support and administrative functions take a massive chunk of NHS payroll and it was here that I saw a much higher proportion of people who thought nothing of treading water, milking the system and throwing countless unjustified sickies because they could. And they knew they could get away with it. Managers were often powerless to intervene, took a blind eye and many like mine, were themselves equally guilty. But it was the great unspoken and never addressed. A bit like an MP's expenses. You're right AnnaJ, that my 1 year or so won't make me an expert - I was not claiming to be one - but I think it does allow me to draw some comparison with my time in the private sector where absence issues are mostly dealt with more efficiently. To be frank, dishonest workers throwing regular sickies without good reason would not last two months in most private sector companies. My point is that the NHS and the wider civil service allows this behaviour to thrive. Which equals inefficiency and a large part of the ?555 million loss to the NHS. Surely these are funds that could be used to recruit more doctors and reduce hours, stress levels, buy more heart bypass machines...whatever. There are dire funding issues at present having real impact on service and so I strongly disagree that this matter is a "petty" one. The report found what many of us already knew (and in my case have witnessed) - that the rate of sickness in NHS staff is higher than the private sector, not just slightly, but a whole, whopping 1.5 times higher. And I simply don't believe this is all attributable to the fact that "there are more bugs in hospitals" , stress and longer hours because other areas of the civil service are just as bad for absence problems. Whilst I'm not facing death on a daily basis, neither is your average NHS medical records clerk and at 60 odd hours a week myself to keep my business afloat, but I do know a bit about high stress, sleepless nights, fatigue and uncertainty. And I'm no coke sniffing trader. I care about where my taxes go and understandably don't see why I should fund someone's Monday in bed because they got caned the night before. No question that The Times has some political motivation - look at their headline vs that of the Guardian for the same story. But the facts (i.e. a 1.5 x multiple) remain. So....before I pile any more stress onto the genuinely hard working such as Anna and BN5 who would, I agree, take umbrage at my original post let me perhaps rephrase my question in a more specific and less provocative style: Are there any learnings from the efficiencies of the private sector that could help deal with widespread dishonest absenteeism and help reduce the huge (1.5 times) differential in NHS absence rates thats currently costing taxpayers ?555 million each year and compromising NHS service? Has anyone else worked on both sides of the fence?

Re. Co-op - don't want to get you all into a froth but in my mums little town of Spilsby, Lincolnshire have always been only two supermarkets, a Co-op and a newish and much better located Somerfield. I went back at the weekend to find that since Co op bought Somerfield they have sold on the quality Somerfield site to Sainsburys (now about to open there next month) and have kept their old site. This strategy would suggest that they are unlikely to keep both sites on Lordship Lane and may not even keep the best one either so I'm sticking with my bet that we'll get something different on one of those sites.

I was really interested to read this in yesterdays Times. The majority of arguments put forward to improve the NHS focus on government funding and the key external factors but always I think, way too little on improving current, internal efficiency and specifically people. The report above shows that NHS staff have high levels of obesity, smoke more and throw 50% more sickies than their private sector counterparts. If the rate of sickness was to fall in line with non public sector workers they would save a massive ?555 million a year. So (and I realise this is at a very base and simplistic level) why should I, as a tax payer, be funding these skivers and why do we have a system that lets people get away with it? I feel I'm qualified to comment having spent a year working for an NHS Trust Headquarters and a hospital early in my career before embarking on 10 years in the private sector. At the time of leaving the NHS a senior manager tried to persuade me to stay by saying that whilst lower paid, it was much shorter hours with good benefits and "lifestyle". In other words "stay here if you want to take it easy". And I don't buy the argument that 50% more sick days is down to long hours and stress (you'll find both in abundance in the square mile) So what can the NHS learn from the leanest most efficient models of private enterprise without compromising its socialist core values? And how do you feel about funding these lazy people who know they can't be fired easily?

Sally81 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I'd like to come along...You lot are a bit scary > sometimes though....but very helpful and > occasionally hilarious! I know what you mean Sal but turn up and you'll find they're all harmless. Take the online battles into the ring and you'd have a bunch of wheezing, out of shape IT workers, frustrated nurses and media creatives, rolled up Guardian in hand, flailing at each other aimlessly. Like one of those fights from school. LET US THANK THE FORUM FOR GIVING THESE PEOPLE A VOICE.

ok - I take back the warts bit. And I'm off outside now - its 29C in my garden. And I think I just saw Sean Mac in my vegetable patch but it could be heat haze. It probably be wasn't though. He'll no doubt be there. Hiding under a courgette plant and talking about films.

With warts.

You glad you started this thread? Keef is one of the most polite people on here but I have no qualms in saying that you amount to no more than a big pair of hairy unspent bollocks.

BBW - you get zero points in for sighting of Sean Mac, self styled forum stalwart and the area's Most Ubiquitous Man. He's everywhere -the dry cleaners, in the Bishop, AJ Farmer's buying bleach and even the ten pin bowling alley at Elephant and Castle. I swear they are cloning him. I see the man in my fucking sleep! I've met Jah once very briefly - the man is a legend and always out with two fit ladies on his arm setting the world to rights. Some people are much like their online persona, others a lot nicer - are you as much of a jumped up tool in real life?

Thanks for your concern Steve T - just about as much chance of getting crushed in the morning stampede over London Bridge amongst desk bound zombie pedestrians I think. But cycling is not the safest is it? SCSB - I work in the Monument / Bishopsgate area mainly.

To be honest I'm getting a bit over SE22 with its over exposure on this forum and gradual erosion of any independent identity it had never mind the apathy as we watch it slide into commercial mediocrity. Sure it still has a lot going for it but if I was moving now I'd look at Sydenham which is amazing, Forest Hill or even Honor Oak (where you can get a 3 bed house for 275K and shortly a tube). Drugs have been crap everywhere for years - last mass survey showed average cocaine purity has dropped from 73% in 1995 to 23% now which means it costs three times as much and gives you more of the trots as you play roulette with the other 50%. What's the point?!

I'm frankly amazed anyone survived that. It was horrendous from what I saw but looks like all three incredibly have. I love the idea of cycling to work, for my fitness and it's clearly the greenest form of transport but the risks still far outweigh those benefits in my book. If they had a clear and safe cycle route in to the city every day I'd do it - no question. Is that ever likely?

When I walked past just after it was a grim scene with around 7 emergency vehicles- a body was being loaded onto the ambulance - and to be honest I felt physically sick at what I saw. Looks like a motorbike heading south (and fast) across the bridge collided with a bus which pulled out in front of him. Rider hit the bus and was then thrown across the central reservation into the path of some cyclists and one or two were hit. Always have to check for bikes when pulling out - especially fast ones.

Well Happy Birthday wherever you end up - my 29th is on Wednesday and I have decided to go to Hakkasan for those mixology inspired super cocktails....we need a smiley that is a bit better than these for that :)-D

Back room at the Palmerston, Franklins or Le Chardon....also Number 22 in Herne Hill is fantastic - it can be dead inside for lunch but see if you can book a table at their little garden in the back - I had a very romantic meal there just recently!

lemonellen Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I've just had the same email too. Goodness, PR > Officer for Foxtons, now there's a job! Indeed. Right up there with the Iraqi Minister for Tourism.

Well it's either band practice night or he's getting intensive treatment for Forum's Palsy, an addiction related condition afflicting those who have hit the 5K + posting mark in less than 2 years.

Keef? Been almost 5 hours since this latest CPT thread started - are you ok?

Wrong side of the road for 85% of footfall though. Needs to be fast and easy for commuters. Also think it's a bit close to the Great Dividing Line (rail tracks) to fit the premium coffee shop business models. I'm honestly not sure what I'd put there - already a bookies and 3 convenience stores within 50 yards. They should have made it another flat.

No offence Mick but if you were in my bed I'd switch the lights off too. Anyway I have had a good business day today and with Mrs Ben off sunning herself am now needing A Cause for a Monday Night that wil benefit the planet as a whole and make Foxtons think twice about their all night social nuisance of a tool tank. Anyone volunteering to do a short piece to camera / act as spokesman/woman?

Bignumber5 - have you lost the belief that people can change things? Has your thirst for rebellion been neutered by cappucinos, a wide variety of restaurants and a comfortable salary? Imagine if Foxtons lighting policy across their branch network made negative news. Its a good story - as everyone loves to lay the boot in to them and you cant argue with their sheer lack environmental policy and general wastage. It's almost a metaphor for the whole brand to be honest - excessive cost, relentless, motivated greed and zero regard for life itself. Looking in my little black book I have contacts at The One Show, The Guardian Weekend and the BBC newsdesk... shall I?

No it doesn't - almost more bullets than Scarface in it! But I like the idea that after all the violence, drugs he ends up in such peace in the sun - kind of a metaphor that I aspire to... Also not feel good but watched the brilliant Badlands the other night and it's got the same score as True Romance - I wonder if that was intentional Tarantino referencing...film geeks?

Not classic "feel good" more comedy but I like Happy Gilmour which is brilliant and a soft spot for National Lampoons Vacation films. Feel good endings - I like True Romance - ends up on a remote beach in Mexico, painting an old boat, with his girl...skint,a few bullet wounds but finally happy.

Not been to Bestival but know many who have and not sure it still has the special magic that it clearly had in its early years. And it was a mudbath of pre drainage Glasto proportions. There's been too many festivals set up I reckon and they can't and won't all survive. That said I have just found that legendary Welsh rappers Goldie Lookin' Chain (hits: "Your Missus is a nutter") have bagged a slot at V and I plan to try to join them...backstage that is, rather than on it.

Imagine if you could link the TFL route database to a new real time journey planner that worked off the GPS feature on your iphone/mobile. So that wherever you are you simply type in the destination only and it gives you your fastest route and time of the next tube/bus/tram/train in your vicinity. Does this exist yet or should I be giving Dragons Den a call?

Um, corporate landfill indie, an annual appearance from Keane and all kindly sponsored by Budweiser. In other words....THE JAWS OF HELL